USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 63
USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 63
USA > Indiana > Parke County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 63
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From small beginnings Mr. Flaningam increased his real estate, until, at the time of his death, he owned a valuable property, comprising eight hun- dred acres of fine land, much of it under cultiva- tion, and a large portion of it highly improved, and all within the limits of Montgomery County. Aside from this holding he also possessed two thousand acres of good Texas land. The prudence and judgment of Mr. Flaningam were evident in the careful arrangement of his business affairs, which were in such excellent shape at the time of his death that there were no settlements to be made in court.
The children and widow who survived the ven- erable husband and father are all connected with various church organizations, and are all highly respected members of society. His son, Samuel Flaningam, was born in the county of Montgomery
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in 1864, and reared upon his father's farm. He well improved the advantages offered by the com- mon schools, and was early trained in farming du- ties. In 1887 he married Miss Mollie Ward, daughter of George W. Elnora (Heavenridge) Ward, an intelligent and attractive lady, a favorite with a large circle of friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Flaningam are the happy parents of two bright little children, and enjoy a pleasant home npon one hundred and sixty-three acres of well-improved land, originally a part of the old homestead, now owned by its present resident, with whom the widow of our subject makes her home. Samuel Flaningam is a worthy descendant of his honored father, and commands the respect and confidence of the community among which his entire life has been passed. He is a young man of energy and progressive ideas, and interested in all matters of public welfare. He is a strong advocate of the doctrines of the Prohibition party and makes a study of the subject, believing Prohi- bition to be the true principle both in politics and life.
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A LEXANDER HARPER, who has for many years held local offices and has proven him- self a most efficient and popular man, is a member of several different societies, in which, also, he has been honored by elections to important positions. As a business, public and private man he is so well known that to dwell upon these things seems almost unnecessary. He was born near Chillicothe, in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio, September 28, 1825. Thomas T. and Jane (Finch) Harper, his parents, came from Lexington, Ky., with their parents, and set- tled in Ohio in 1800, when they were about five years old.
Mr. Harper's paternal grandfather was an Ohio pioneer, an old soldier, and had lived in Kentucky during his early years, moving there at the age of twelve. His grandfather on his mother's side was Col. Josiah Finch. The Harpers were formerly from Virginia, the Finches from Maryland,
both families afterward moving to Kentucky. Francis Harper, a great-uncle of our subject, was killed at the Indian battle at the Lower Lynx, while his great-grandfather was killed at Bunker Hill. The wife of the latter was a sister of Alex- ander McConnell, a pioneer of Kentucky, asso ciated with Boone. After her husband's death she went to Kentucky. Robert Harper, a brother of Francis, was a lientenant-colonel and aide to Gen. Wayne at the battle of Maumee. Alexander, Sr., died of gravel at the age of seventy-five. He was a large, powerful man.
Thomas T., the father of our subject, was, as has been indicated before, born at Lexington, Ky., in 1795. His father took up eight hundred acres of land. In 1830 Thomas came to Montgomery County, Ind., and located in Sugar Creek Town- ship, eighteen miles northeast of Crawfordsville. Several families came to the same township at this time: The Bowers, Petersons, Stearns, Hendersons, Saul Irving, Wyant and William Taylor, fam- ilies from Ohio, and later the Mitchells and a few others. At this time Thomas was a poor man. After a time he built a cabin, living there for about eleven years, clearing and improving his farm as much as possible. About 1841 he moved into Franklin Township, and with his son, Alex- ander, entered another farm. In the spring of 1843 trouble came to him in the shape of the death of his wife. His own decease followed on Jannary 8, 1859. Both were buried at Shannon- dale.
Mr. Harper, Sr., and his wife were Presbyte- rians. Mrs. Harper was a well-balanced and well- educated woman, superior in every way, and re- markable for intellectual power. She was thor- onghly informed in church doctrine and was fre- quently consulted even by ministers. She was positive in her nature and decidedly gifted.
Only three of the children of this marriage are now living, although five grew to maturity: Mrs. Mary J. Booher resides in Sugar Creek Township; Mrs. Elizabeth T. Harper has her home in Ver- milion County, Ill., and in marrying did not change her name. The eldest sister, Sarah A., died at about sixty years of age, while James F.
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lived - to be only forty-nine; both are buried at Darlington. Alexander was but five years old the day that the family came to Montgomery County.
It was largely through his mother that Mr. Har- per received his education. As has been said be- fore, she was a superior woman and her son holds her memory in grateful remembrance. The sub- ject of our sketch continued to live on his farm four miles south of Darlington till 1862. He was for some time a stock dealer, for two years con- fining his trade chiefly to Illinois, where he also secured land. In 1864 he opened a general store at Darlington and continued in this business six years with good success. He also became a director in the Terre Haute Railway, being one of those who first secured the right of way. Soon after this be entered into the business of a con- tractor, but lost about $15,000 by this, not getting pay for work done. Being crippled financially, he got along as best he could, taking work as a con- tractor for twelve years. .
In 1882 he became connected with local offices. Previous to this, in 1853, he had been elected trustee of Franklin Township and had also been elected Justice of the Peace, serving about twenty years in the two offices, having held the office of trustee as long as the law would allow. He was a Democrat and the only one of that party that could have been elected in the township. He had moved to Crawfordsville in 1879 and in 1882 was elected sheriff over James Q. W. Wilhite, the then sheriff. Mr. Wilhite was a popular officer and the campaign was a closely-contested one, but our subject was elected by a safe majority. In 1884 he was re-elected and filled the office for four years; this last campaign was the hardest fought of all.
During Mr. Harper's time of service occurred the only executions ever held in Montgomery County-those of John Coffey, for murder and ar- son, and John C. Henning for the murder of his sweetheart. Mr. Harper says: "I think the devil had a mortgage on our county and was try- ing to close it." Crime went rampant so that during the first year he had a great many hard
cases and stirring incidents. His old township was about seventy-five Republican, but he was kept repeatedly in office for twenty years, as before stated, showing the real worth of the man himself independent of party. He proved himself as well the best sheriff that Montgomery County ever had. Since retiring from office he has given his atten- tion to his farm, which is located five miles north- east of Crawfordsville.
Mr. Harper was married May 21, 1856, taking for his wife Miss Eleanor Miller, who lived five miles west of Crawfordsville, on Black creek. She was a daughter of William Miller, one of the pio- neer settlers. She died about one year after her marriage, July 16, 1857. February 24, 1859, he was a second time married, his bride being Miss Harriet Flannigan, of Darlington, daughter of Saul and Eleanor (Abernethy) Flannigan. She was born in the county, her father having settled here in 1826. He has some interesting old parch- ments signed by James Monroe. His death oc- curred when he had reached the age of fifty years. His widow is now living with the Harpers, and is iu her eighty ninth year. She was from Virginia. Mr. Harper's family consists of two daughters- Martha J. and Calista C .-- both of whom are un- married and are living at home.
Mr. Harper is a Mason, a member of the chap- ter at Darlington. He has passed the Masonic work in lodge and chapter, passed all the chairs, presiding in the east in the Blue Lodge for years. He still holds his membership at Darlington. He was elected Master in 1866 and has been re- peatedly re-elected. He has been Master for the last two years. He is a member of Darlington Lodge, No. 186; Crawfordsville Chapter, No. 84; Council, No. 30 and Athens Chapter, No. 96, of the Eastern Star.
Mr. Harper inherits the large, powerful frame of his grandfather and unites physical and men- tal strength to a degree that makes him a man whom any city might be glad and proud to count among its prominent men. Crawfordsville is ever ready to appreciate and acknowledge worth, and she finds this most truly in the subject of this sketch.
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W ILLIAM D. MULL, M. D., a prominent physician of Rockville, Parke County, and one of the influential and progressive citizens, well deserves mention in this volume, for he has done much toward the npbuild- ing and development of the county, and with the promotion of its best interests his name is insepa- rably connected. A native of Pennsylvania, be was born on Jannary 17, 1838, in Lancaster County. His life has been a varied and eventful one and his experiences have made him an excel- lent judge of human nature and also an able and interesting conversationalist. The Doctor was born to Jacob and Mary (Darrow) Mull. Jacob was of German descent and was wedded in Penn- sylvania to his wife, who became the mother of ten children, of whom the following are still living: Henry Elizabeth, Lucinda, Martha, David H., C. G. and J. J.
In 1840 Jacob Mull came to Indiana and located in Parke County in Washington Township, where he purchased a wild and uncultivated tract of land which he cleared, with the assistance of his children. Here he spent thirty five years of hard labor when he rented and moved to Rockville, where he died in 1876. He was considered a successful farmer and by close application to his pursuits, he, at the time of his death, was quite well-to-do. He was killed by his runaway team on January 17; his wife passed away September 11, 1889.
William D. Mull was about two years old when he came to this county, where he was reared on the old homestead and was given as good an edu- cation as the district schools of that time afforded. But not satisfied with the little knowledge he gained there he attended the Waveland College Institute. Mr. Mull was of a very patriotic nature and when a call for troops was issued he joined the army, enlisting in Company A, Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, as a private, April 19, 1861. In doing this he was compelled to sacrifice a great deal, for had he remained in the institute he would have graduated in June, but he was only too proud to be of service to his country and was the first man in the township to enroll his name. His bravery and loyalty to his country were frequently tested und never failed. On first going out he discharged
the duties of a Sergeant; in 1863 he was promoted to the rank of Captain in Company B, One Hun - dred and Fifteenth Indiana Infantry. From that he was discharged in order that he might accept a commission as Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Infantry and at the close of the war commanded a brigade.
In the battle of Antietam during which fight they lost nineteen men, while in command of his company Capt. Mull barely escaped with his life on the day of the conflict and was carried off the battle-field with five bullet-holes in his cap and severely wounded. His wounds were immedi- ately cared for, but on examination they were found to be so serious as to confine him to the hos- pital until the following May, when he was able to again report for duty. In the engagement at Franklin, Rich Mountain, in the Peninsular cam- paign and in the battles of Bull Run and Winches- ter, he showed his valor and patriotism. He never shirked duty but was ever found in the foremost ranks and in the very thickest of the fight, speaking encouraging words to his men and thus winning many a victory.
After the war was over Dr. Mull returned to his old home and entered the Jefferson Medical Col- lege at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1868. In connection with this he took a special course in surgery and afterward entered the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, from which he graduated in 1868. At this period he returned to Indiana and located at Terre Hante, where he practiced his profession till the fall of 1875. He married in 1871, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha E. Allen, who was the daughter of James Allen, of Parke County and one of its earliest settlers. Mr. Allen came here in 1826 walking all the way from Cincinnati. On arriving here he straightway entered a tract of land in Washington Township, where he lived and reared, with paternal care, his family of eight chil- dren, who grew to mature years.
Mrs. Martha Mull was born in this county in 1851 and died in 1883, on the first day of the new year. She was a strict member of the Presbyte- rian Church, attending its services regularly and contributing her means for its support. She was
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the mother of two children who are at home and are named, Mary Alice and Arthur A. In 1875 Mr. Mull moved to a farm four miles east of Rockville, where he had purchased a farm some time before. He lived there about three years, practicing medicine and also engaged some in farm- ing. In 1881 on account of Mrs. Mull's health they went to Florida, where they remained during the winter, returning to their Rockville home, which Mr. Mull had purchased four years previ- ously and had made into a comfortable and con- venient residence by modern improvements.
Dr. Mull devotes the greater part of his time to looking after his farm of one hundred and sixty fertile acres in Adams and Washington Townships and is also engaged in stock-raising, keeping some of the finest and best breeds. Politically he is for the Republican party and is not only influential in this capacity, but has also been elected to the office of Coroner of the county. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, also of the Knights of Pythias and of the Grand Army of the Republic Post and has held all the offices. He is at present Vice-president of the Soldiers' and Or- phans' Home of Knightstown, Indiana.
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OHN H. LEE. It would be difficult to find within the city of Rockville a more pleasant home than the residence occupied by Mr. Lee which is located on Indiana street and sur- rounded by beautiful and well-kept grounds. In the course of a long and honorable business career, many varied experiences have been his and heavy losses have occasionally met his enterprises, but the losses have been more than retrieved through the investments, so that now he has sufficient of this world's goods to free his old age from the cares of poverty. In retirement from the active duties which formerly engaged his attention he is enjoying the fruits of his labors and in his beanti- ful home, with the loving care of his family to con- tribute to his happiness, he is passing his declin- ing years in peace and contentment.
Mr. Lee was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1840, on the 11th of September. His father,
John L., was a farmer in the old country. The mother of our subject was Mrs. Rachael (Flood) Lee. She was the mother of five children, two sons and three daughters. Her sister, Mrs. Jones, resides in Vermillion County, this state. John Lee and his wife took great pride in educating their children, thus preparing them for an active business career. Mr. Lee received his education in the public schools in England. When he was eighteen years old he went to London and there engaged in the bakery business with his brother, William J. Lee. After he had acquired a goodly knowledge of this business he worked in his own interest for six or seven years, then engaged in the butcher business.
In 1861 Mr. Lee was married to Miss Emma M. Green, who is the daughter of Charles Green. She was born in Bristol, England, but at the time of her marriage she was living in London. Her father was a baker in that city, which business he had followed for several years. Nine years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lee emigrated to America and lived near Kingston, Canada, and began his career as a farmer, where he remained ten months. In the spring of the following year he removed to Oswego city, N. Y., where he worked as a jour- neyman butcher for about one and one-half years, at the end of which time he came to Montezuma, this county. Here he worked for Mr. Burns in a fire-brick factory, which pursuit he continued to follow until spring, when he opened a meat-mar- ket in that place. In this business he was very profitable, receiving a good portion of the people's trade and so continued in this line for about six months. In 1883 he came to Rockville where he again started in his old business, but was burned out December 28, 1892. After this unfortunate event he concluded to rest for a time, but expects to take up again his former occupation in a short period. During the past twenty years he has been engaged in buying, selling and shipping stock.
About two years ago, in the spring of 1891, he started a brick kiln, which has afforded him a good income and he now furnishes the demand for brick in Parke County.
To Mr. Lee and wife have been born ten chil- dren, all of whom are living. They are Henry S.,
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Frederick S., Charles W., Adelaide, Walter, Oli- ver, George, Elizabeth, Herbert and Arthur. Henry is at Danville, Ill., in the insurance busi- ness; Charles is following the former occupation of his father in this town; Fred is in New York city, traveling in the interests of a pork-packing establishment. The rest of the family are all at home. Mr. Lee is a Republican in politics and also a member of the City Board of Rockwell, to which he has belonged for five years. He has al- ways advocated industries, especially those bene- ficial to the town. He has been one of the princi- pal parties to forward the electric-light system. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and has held every office in this lodge, and claims membership with the Grand Lodge of the state.
In his religious views he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is one of the Trustees of that congregation iu Rockville. He is a good paying member and active worker, and one whose time is not occupied altogether with bnsi- ness affairs. Mr. Lee owns one of the finest resi- (lences in the town of Rockville, besides having in his possession one hundred and seventy acres of land in Adams Township, which is mainly well im- proved. This he devotes to general farming and stock-raising, shipping a great amount of stock to Indianapolis and Chicago. No one takes greater pride in the prosperity of Rockville than does the gentleman of whom we write, and not only is he liked by the rich and fortunate, but by the young and needy and those who are struggling for rec- ognition.
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M ARTIN S. JACK resides on Section 26, Green Township, Parke County, and is one of the most clever and industrious farmers of this township. He is a native of Warren County, Ohio, being born March 5, 1827, to James H. and May E. Jack. The father was also born in Warren County, Ohio, June 1, 1804, and was the son of John Thomas Jack, who was born in Lexington, Ky., September 5, 1777. Ile married Eliza Smith, whose parents had set- tled among the Indians in Kentucky on a tract of
land on which they built a rude hut. Later they purchased another large tract near by. Mrs. Abra- ham Lincoln was a second cousin to Mrs. Smith, whose mother's name was Todd, and Samuel Jack was a brother of John Thomas Jack, and born November 12, 1812. John Thomas Jack moved from Kentucky to Ohio and settled in Warren County, about thirty miles from Cincinnati in the Miami Valley. There he lived until 1828, when he came to Indiana with our subject's father, to help him move to this county, but on account of not liking it very well because of its dense timber land, he moved to Tippecanoe County where he entered land of the Government and there lived until the time of his death. He was the father of twelve children, one of whom died in infancy.
The father of our subject was the oldest child and all but two of his brothers and sisters reached their majority. John Jack was a Justice of the Peace for many years while in Ohio. The father, James, was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1804. There he met Miss Barbara Wyatt, to whom he was wedded May 11, 1822. By this marriage there was one child born -- Susan, who is the wife of John C. Esslinger, of Webster County, Mo., where she died. After the decease of his first wife, who died about one year after their marriage, James Jack again chose a companion. The lady was Miss Mary Sellers and was a native of Warren County, Ohio, being born in May, 1825. She was the daughter of Christian Sellers, who was a resi- dent of Warren County, Ohio, and afterward emi- grated to this county where he lived until the time of his death.
Before Mr. and Mrs. Jack moved from Ohio Mr. Jack was born, being the only child by this marriage. He was born March 5, 1827, and came to Indiana in one of the old covered wagons with his parents in 1829, where they located in Green Township near the farm owned by Christian Sel- lers who had emigrated here and entered from the Government two thousand and forty acres of land, which he afterward divided among his seven children, giving them in all about five hundred and sixty acres each. The land that James Jack took possession of was in a perfectly wild condition, but he settled on Section 34 and immediately set about
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clearing a place on which to build a log cabin. Here he lived until the time of his death when he was the possessor of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He had previously given each of his children eighty acres, and at his death he left each forty acres, excepting May. He was a snc- cessful farmer, and a member and elder in the Christian Church. He was one of the persons who were instrumental in the organization of the congregation at Parkville, and when the church edifice was erected he contributed lib- erally toward that, building the major part of it himself. He also helped to organize the church at Portland Mills, and was a contributor to it as well. He was trustee of the township for a number of years, and in politics was an adherent of the Democratic party, but on account of military acts, he cast his vote for Gen. William H. Harrison. He died in December, 1881, and his wife passed away about ten years before. After her death Mr. Jack married Mrs. Nancy Crawford, who is still living in the Indian Territory in the Cherokee Nation. By his second marriage he became the father of five children, all of whom are living, namely: Martin S., John Thomas, a resident of Green Township, this county, where he is exten- sively engaged in farming; Adam S., another repre- sentative of the agricultural class of Green Town- ship; Eliza J., wife of James Sowder, who owns a large farm in this township; Mary, the wife of Perry Blake, who lives south of Bellmore in Union Township.
Martin Jack was about two years old when he came to Indiana with his parents. He grew to manhood on the old homestead, attending the country school of his district, afterward supple- menting it by an attendance at the public schools of this county, where he received a splendid edu- cation. He lived at home till his marriage, which was celebrated the 15th of November, 1846, the other contracting party . being Susan Lanning, a daughter of Thomas Lanning, who was a native of North Carolina and came to Indiana about the year 1830. Mrs. Jack was born March 16, 1825, in North Carolina, in Lawson County, and eame to Parke County with her parents in 1830. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jack located in
Green Township on Section 35, where they lived for about ten years. At this time they removed to a farm on Section 25, which he bought after sell- ing his possession on Section 34. He lived on that farm but two or three years when he moved to the place where he now lives, and lived in a large log house. In 1866 he replaced this with a large substantial frame house which has all the modern conveniences and requisites which go to make a comfortable country home.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack have had born to them eight children, five of whom are still living. They are John T. C., who is a successful farmer in Green Township and the father of six children, two of whom are living; Mary Catherine, wife of Mathias Van Huss, a resident of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Van Huss have a family of eleven children, ten living, two of the boys being twins, who were educated in Terre Haute. Five have graduated from the common schools. Nancy E. is the wife of Michael Smith and the mother of six children, five of whom are living. They are now living with our subject. Ella M. is the wife of William McBride, of Vermilion County, Ill. (She is the mother of four children and was born December 8, 1862.) Jesse Andrew is living among the mountains of Colorado, on a ranch. The deceased children are Lucinda, who died at the age of nine years and three months; James D., who died in 1889. (He had been a resident of Kansas for eight years prior to the time of his death. He was a well-to-do farmer and was married to Miss Susa Sutton, who preceded him to the land of rest a few years. Five orphan children were left to mourn the father's death, and Martin, our subject, has been their guardian since.) William H., who was born March 16, 1856, and died in 1891, leav- ing a wife (whose maiden name was Mary L. Buks) and three children.
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